CIArb @ 40 Conference | Chairman’s Message

A Heartfelt Thank You – Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence in Arbitration & ADR in Kenya

As we bring CIArb Kenya Branch‘s 40th Anniversary Conference to a close, I want to express our deepest gratitude to all our valued partners, fellows and members who attended this significant event.

Your presence and active participation not only made the conference a gathering of brilliant minds but also a celebration of groundbreaking ideas, fostering innovation and cooperation in the field of arbitration and #ADR.

We are delighted that so many of you could join us to reflect on our proud history and look ahead to shaping the future of dispute resolution together.

We extend our thanks to the Honourable Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya Justin Muturi, representing H.E. the President William Samoei Ruto, PhD, for officially opening our conference and announcing that Kenya’s National ADR Policy, approved by the Cabinet in March 2023, is now before the National Assembly as Session Paper No.4 of 2024. We were also grateful to have the Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy W. attend our event.

To our Patron, CJ Martha Koome, we are grateful for your support and for leading Deputy Chief Justice and Supreme Court Justices in achieving the esteemed status of Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). We also appreciate your leading us in our book launch with your publication entitled “A Multidoor Exploration of Dispute Resolution in Kenya: Unlocking Justice.”

CIARB Global President Jonathan Wood FCIArb, it was an honor to host you in Kenya along with CIARB Africa Trustee and CIARB Branch Chairs. Each of our international delegates further made a significant impact. We thank Hon. Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda Attorney General Malawi for joining us.

Special thanks to each and everyone of our speakers for sharing their invaluable insights, as well as our sponsors and partners for their unwavering support. Your contributions were essential to the success of this historic conference.

Our Kenyan delegates; You are simply the best! We are because you are! 👌

Overall, it was an incredible conference and a remarkable opportunity for CIArb Kenya to showcase the ongoing efforts to establish Nairobi as a secure juridical seat for arbitration, in line with CIARB’s Principles of Law, Judiciary, Legal Expertise, Education, Right of Representation, Accessibility and Safety, Ethics, Enforceability, and Immunity.

Let’s build upon the connections we’ve strengthened, the knowledge we’ve exchanged, and the memories we’ve created. Here’s to many more years of advancing the practice of arbitration & ADR and nurturing harmonious resolutions, which our global community critically relies upon for a peaceful and sustainable world.

Visit here to view the opening remarks and keynote address video

#CIArb@40 #ArbitrationExcellence #DisputeResolution #Thanks

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ROUNDTABLE REPORT: Alternative Dispute Resolution for Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya

1. Background and Context  Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of Kenya’s economy,  contributing approximately 33% of GDP and employing over 80% of the workforce outside  the agricultural sector. Despite this significance, SMEs remain disproportionately exposed  to commercial disputes that are costly, protracted, and frequently unresolved through  formal judicial channels.  The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb) Kenya Branch convened a multi-stakeholder  roundtable to interrogate the landscape of dispute resolution for SMEs, assess the efficacy  of existing mechanisms, and identify entry points for scalable Alternative Dispute  Resolution (ADR) interventions. The roundtable convened representatives from the Micro  and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA), the Judiciary, the Kenya National Chamber of  Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), the financial sector, the insurance industry, and the  youth entrepreneurship ecosystem.  This report summarises the deliberations and perspectives presented by each  stakeholder group, and distills shared conclusions, identified gaps, and proposed areas of  partnership.  2. Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) â€” Perspective  Presenters: Maureen Gachogo- Registrar.                       :Agnes Thiong’o- Senior legal officer.  2.1 Nature and Typology of Disputes in the SME Sector  MSEA’s frontline engagement with the SME ecosystem reveals that disputes within this  sector are diverse in character and frequently multi-layered. The Authority identified three  principal categories of disputes commonly encountered:  •Governance disputes: These arise within SME structures, particularly cooperatives,  chamas, and registered business associations, where disagreements over  leadership, profit-sharing, decision-making authority, and member obligations  create internal fractures. Such disputes, if unresolved, often result in enterprise  dissolution or significant productive loss.  •Resource disputes â€“ Land use: A recurring category of disputes involves access to  and use of land for business operations. These disputes frequently involve 

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